Fastening device



Dec. 15, 1931. E. M. GILES FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1926 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE M. GILES, OF WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO HISHAWAKA RUBBER AND WOOLE'N MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, A CORPORA- TION OF INDIANA FASTENING DEVICE Application filed August 19, 1928. Serial No. 180,148.

My invention relates to fastening devices wherein opposed series of fastener elements are interlocked and released by movement of a cam member or slider along the two series of elements and has reference more particularly to the formation of the interlocking portions of the elements.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved form of fastener ele- 11o ment; to insure ample flexibility or lateral bending of the interlocked fastener without any danger ofdisengagi-ng the elements; to hold the elements against lateral separation or side slipping by interengaging means w cated substantially midway between the lateral edges of the elements; to utilize said interengaging means to space the elements and afford a center hearing or fulcrum therebetween; to reinforce the arched interlocking 2o portion of the element; and in general, to provide a fastener element which is simple and easily manufactured and affords a substantial and dependable fastening.

On the drawings Fig. lis a fragmentary view of a fastening device embodying my improvements, with portions of the slider broken away to show the elements as they interlock and release;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a plurality of interlocked elements;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the outer end of one of the fastener elements;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are top perspective and bottom plan views respectively of one of the fastener elements;

Figs. '7 and 8 are side views of modified forms of fastener elements;

Fig-9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 4. showing a modified form of the fastener elements. 7

Referring to the drawings, the reference numerals l and 2 indicate fragmentary portions of the parts which are to be connected, and 3 and 4 are series of elements which are mounted on the parts 1 and 2 respectively, and adapted to be interlocked and released by movement of the cam member or slider 5 along the two series of elements 3 and 4. The elements 3 and 4 are alike, and each comprises a substantially fiat plate 6 which is formed at one end for attachment to the part 1 or 2 and at the other end with means for interlocking with elements of the opposed series.

The mounting of the elements may beaccomplished in any convenient or desired manner, a well known form bein shown, which consists in providing the memTner 6 at one end with a pair of jaws 7 and an enlarged throat portion 8, and these jaws are clamped on the enlarged or corded edge 9 of a tape 10 which is in turn secured to the part 1 or 2.

The end of the member 6 remote from the jaws 77, which is herein referred to as the outer end of the fastener element, is formed substantiall with a corrugation extending crosswise o the member 6, and the corrugation is notched midway between the ends so as to form a groove 11 extendin across the raised side of the corrugation an lengthwise of the member 6. A correspondingly arranged rib 12 extends across the concave side of the corrugation and serves as a brace to connect and reinforce the opposite side walls of the corrugation. With this construction there is an arched or hook shaped formation at each side of the rib 12 and recess 11 affording a projection 13 at each side of the groove 11 and an open ended recess 14 at each side of the rib 12.

When the elements 3 and 4 are interlocked, the outer end portions of the elements on the one side are inserted and nested between the outer end portions of the elements on the other side in the usual manner and the projections 13 of each element engage in the recesses '14 of the adjoining element with the rib 12 of the latter element engaged in the recess 11 of the first mentioned element. The engaged projections 13 and recesses 14 then serve to effectively hold the opposed elements against direct separation while theengagement of the ribs 12 with the recesses or grooves 11 prevent side slipping or lateral disengagement. 1

In practice it is preferred to arrange the ribs 12 and recesses 11 so that these engage and hold the lateral portions of the adjoining interlocked elements apart sufficiently as shown in Fig. 4, to provide clearance between the lateral portions of the elements and thereby permit freedom of lateral flexing or bending of the interlocked fastener to a considerable extent without any binding or cramping action taking place between the adjoining elements, and the rib 12, by its engagement in the notch or groove 11, serves at such time as a center hearing or fulcrum for the rocking action which takes place between the adjoining elements. Owing to the center location of the rib 12 and groove 11 or the positioning of same substantially midway between the lateral edges of the elements, it will be observed that in case the interlocked fastener is bent or flexed sufficiently to cause a prying action between the adjoining elements, an extreme relative angular adjustment of the elements would be required before the rib 12 would be lifted sufliciently from the recess or groove 11 so that side slipping or lateral displacement of the interlocked elements could take place. The elements are securely clamped on the enlarged or corded edge 9 of the supporting tape or stringer 10 which is substantially non-extensible and prevents prying apart of the elements sufficiently to disengage the ribs 12 from the grooves 11 and moreover, the clamping of the elements on the corded edge 9 of the stringer causes aslight bunching of the material of the corded edge between the elements and this serves somewhat as a cushioning element to prevent sharp bending of the fastener and together with the non-extensibility of the stringer and the center location of the ribs '12 and recesses 11, avoids any pos sibility of the interlocked elements side slippii igl out of engagement.

e hook shaped portions of the fastener elements may be formed otherwise than shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, as for example, they may be of a rounded form as indicated at 15 in Fig. 7, or of a V-shape form as shown at 16 in Fig. 8, and the elements may be notched at opposite sides directly back of the hook formation to form a recess as indicated at 17 in Figs. 7 and 8 behind each projection 15 to afford lateral clearance for the end edge of the element which is interlocked therewith. Moreover, the rib 12 and recess 11 are not necessarily of an angular form in cross section, but the recess may be rounded as indicated at 18 in Fig. 9, and the rib may be similarly rounded in cross section as shown M19 in the same figure. also be made, as for example, if it is desired to increase the capability of lateral bending or flexing of the interlocked fastener, the lateral portions of the element at opposite sides of the center rib and groove may be beveled or tapered as indicated at 20 and 21. The end edges of the elements may also be beveled at opposite sides of the rib as indicated at 22 in Fig. 10, so as to afford greater clearance between the lateral portions of the adjoining elements and permit greater freedom of lateral bending or flexing of the interlocked fastener. 'ith the rib 12 and recess 11, which prevent lateral separation or side slipping,'located at the center, considerable clearance between the lateral portions of the adjoining interlocked elements may be provided and a high degree of lateral flexing or bending obtained without danger of the interlocked elements slipping sidewise out of engagement when the interlocked fastener is bent or doubled over very sharply.

\Vhile I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention. the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fastening device -of the class described, the combination of opposed series of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, each of said elements being formed at the outer end with an arched portion extending crosswise of the element for interlocking with corresponding arched portions of elements of the opposed series and said arched portions of the elements being provided between the ends with abrupt ribs and recesses, the ribs being higher than the recesses are deep so as to afford a fulcrum engagement between the adjoining interlocked elements for lateral rocking action therebetween.

2. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of a fastener element comprising an elongated plate having mounting means at one end and a transverse corrugation at the other end extending to the lateral edges of the element, a substantially V-shaped notch extending across the convex side of the corrugation and a substantially V-shaped rib extending across the concave side of the corrugation, the depth of the rib exceeding the depth of the notch.

3. A fastening device of the character described provided at one end with attaching means, the opposite end being provided with an open ended corrugation extending transversely across the device, the arched side of the corrugation being shorter than that of the recessed side thereof, a rib extending Other changes may transversely across the interior of the corrugation midway between the ends thereof, said rib having an edge of material width less than the base of the .rib, the arched side 5 of the corrugation being provided with an open ended groove extending longitudinally of the device and having its bottom narrower than the top, the rib and the groove being complementary, and the depth of the rib ex- 10 ceeding the depth of the groove.

4. In a fastening device of the class described the combination of a fastener element havin mounting means at one end and a rib an groove at the other end extend- 15 ing lengthwise of the element and laterally extending arched portions between which 'said rib and groove are interposed, said rib being higher t an the depth 0 the ve.

EUGENE M. ILES. 2o 

